Four pure LAB strains, Leuconostoc mesenteroides NCU1426,
Lactococcus lactis NCU1315, L. plantarum NCU1121 and L. casei
NCU1222 were used in Chinese sauerkraut fermentation under
laboratory controlled conditions. Cells of each LAB strain were
cultured in MRS broth at 30 C for 18 h to reach a concentration of
109 cfu/mL. Cells were harvested by collecting cell pellets after
centrifuging 50 ml of each culture at 4500 rpm for 10 min. The cell
pellets were washed twice with saline and resuspended in 0.9%
saline to produce LAB suspensions of approximately 106 cfu/mL for
starter inoculation.